Sunday, September 04, 2005

Nicholson Opposes "Sunshine" Directive

UUP MEP criticised Commission's draft directive on the protection of workers from potentially harmful optical radiation. Under its agenda of promoting more socially responsible behaviour by companies on workplace issues, the European Commission has presented a package of directives on the protection of workers from certain physical agents. While the directives on protection from noise, vibrations and electromagnetic fields have already been passed, a draft directive on the protection of workers from potentially harmful optical radiation, under consideration since 1992, will be voted by Parliament in second reading on 6 September 2005. However, Mr Nicholson reacted in these terms: "the directive raises the prospect of fully clothed lifeguards in open-air swimming pools. Builders and barmaids would be forced to cover up as their bosses make 'sunlight risk assessments' every day. Cricketers could even be forced to interrupt the game and pull on long sleeved shirts when the sun comes out - and example of good light stopped play?" According to the European Commission Representation in the UK: "new EU rules on optical radiation, due to be voted on by ministers and MEPS (including those from the UK) in September 2005, do not tell people what they can wear, or ban low-cut tops or, heaven forbid, dirndls. They instead require bosses to assess the risk of skin and retina damage for employees who work in the sun all day. This is a pressing concern, given that in the UK alone there 69,000 new cases of skin cancer diagnosed each year. How the risk to employees will be assessed, and what measures should be taken if there is deemed to be one, will be decided at local level – in the UK by the Health and Safety Executive. Of course, bar managers can always use their common sense by handing out sun cream."